Q: I had an informal chat with my local Planning Office last autumn regarding permission to erect a two-bed bungalow on the bottom half of my garden (which has separate access from the rear). The officer was very receptive, and at no time was there any mention of fees other than the normal planning application fee. Plans were submitted in January by my agent, who then contacted me in mid-February to say there would be £800 payable as a contribution to the wider community if I proceeded. The Planning Officer then called in March and I was surprised to learn that two more payments would be required if consent was given – £1,086 for a Community Infrastructure Levy, including five per cent towards the Crossrail development, and £4,654 towards a Small Site Contribution Policy. I haven’t yet been able to confirm that these latest figures supersede all the previous ones. In addition, I rather assumed that if I sold the land, the new owner/developer would be responsible for any fees but now believe that isn’t the case.

I am a widow in my mid-seventies, and I felt that planning permission would give me some options for the future and also cut down on the garden maintenance. It was meant to be a long-term project, depending on how I felt in another year’s time, but now this doesn’t now seem such a good idea. I’d appreciate your comments.

AW, Chingford

A: You have investigated the idea of selling off part of your garden as a building plot, and sought planning permission in order to firm-up the value of the land – a process that has been common for several years, ever since it was encouraged under the previous government in order to increase house building. Sadly, your timing has been unfortunate.

The situation regarding these levies on new buildings is evolving so fast that many building professionals have been unable to keep up. The Crossrail Development Levy was originally proposed in 2009 to raise money from new developments in central London, and those close to the Crossrail stations in outer London, which could expect to have their values raised by proximity to this improved transport network. By 2011, the levy had been extended to cover all London boroughs, with those in the central transport Zone 1 charged £50 per square metre, those in Zone 2 charged £35 per sq m, and Zone 3 charged at £20 per sq m. The tax was then renamed the “Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy” (CIL), and started April 1 2012.

Alongside this, various London boroughs, including your own Waltham Forest council, have been given the right to levy their own charges on new buildings. Waltham Forest is charging a “Small Site Contribution” amounting to several thousand pounds, based on the size of the proposed dwelling.

This seems to me to be an unintended consequence of the “freezing” of council tax, which has left a funding shortfall at local council level.

London boroughs are therefore attempting to raise money by this stealth property tax, which has not received the publicity it deserves. The whole thing appears totally at odds with central government policy to promote house building.

Wall protection

Q: Ten years ago, the previous owners of our house paid for a protective masonry coating on the outside walls. There was a guarantee that could be extended but, in any event, the company has gone bust. The coating is now starting to lift off the east end of the house, rather than from the prevailing westerly wind end and, of course, looks rather unsightly. What are our options? The cost 10 years ago was astronomical – we would not wish to repeat it.

SU, Tytherington

A: I have been warning readers for many years against these so-called “never paint again” textured external wall coatings, which are thick spray-on paint systems that soon crack and peel off. The firms that sell them have a track record of dissolving after a year or so, in order not to honour the 10-year “warranties” (that were actually meaningless in the first place).

These coatings can be removed using chemical paint stripper. There are two formulations of coating that need different strippers – you can get a trial pack of both for £13 fromStrippers Paint Removers (01787 371524).